Asda in Ellesmere Port was approached by Crescent Road residents for £500 to help clear the overgrown site near their houses.

The borough's head of environmental services, Mike Whittaker, says in a report: 'Understandably the local residents are unhappy with the condition of the land and approached Asda for consideration for a community grant.

'I understand they wished for part of this land to be cleared and re-grassed for use as a children's area.

'Unfortunately, Asda took a view that the extent of the clearance work required would be extensive and this on its own did not meet the criteria of the local funding.

'Subsequently Asda decided to use the money to fund a project in Whitby Park instead.'

Anne Pryor, events co-ordinator for Asda, said that, prior to this, they had met with Mr Whittaker, as well as corresponding with the borough mayor and councillors, and Groundwork Wirral about the Crescent Road scheme.

'This was about a year ago. There was tall grass, broken fences and brambles. But we were told our £500 would not buy a new fence,' she explained.

The supermarket giant reluctantly decided it would be better if it gave the £500 to the Friends of Whitby Park to clean up the site instead.

Since then, Asda has also given £500 to the community allotments group for raised flower beds to benefit disabled gardeners and visitors.

And on hearing that the council is now sprucing up the Crescent Road allotments themselves, Mrs Pryor said: 'I'm glad it's being done.'

Mr Whittaker said they are clearing away rubbish there, cutting back overgrowth, repairing the broken boundary fence, weeding and spraying weedkiller, road sweeping the area, and using a digger to scrape away the surfacing and flatten it.